Variable position seat belt buckle holder

ABSTRACT

A variable position holder for seatbelt buckles comprised of magnetic members placed in a series position on the holder panel for placing and securing the seatbelt buckles thereon while not being used.

United States Patent 1 Hornyak June 19, 1973 VARIABLE POSITION SEAT BELTBUCKLE HOLDER [76] Inventor: Robert J. Hornyak, 144 Everett,

Toledo, Ohio 43608 [22] Filed: Dec. 14, 1970 211 App]. No.: 97,548

[52] U.S. Cl. 297/385, 297/389 [51] Int. Cl. A47c 31/00 [58] Field ofSearch 277/188, 385, 386,

73 MF, 23 U [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS Coe 24/230 A X3,522,923 8/1970 Charpentier 248/206 A FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS480,964 12/1969 Switzerland 24/201 B Primary Examiner-Bobby R. GayAssistant Examiner-Glenn O. Finch AttarneyGeorge R. Royer [57] ABSTRACTA variable position holder for seatbelt buckles comprised of magneticmembers placed in a series. position on the holder panel for placing andsecuring the seatbelt buckles thereon while not being used.

2 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures PATENIEUJUNWW 3,140,094

INVENTOR. ROBERT J. HORNYAK VARIABLE POSITION SEAT BELT BUCKLE HOLDERBACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION I This invention is a holder for seatbeltbuckles and specifically male or female ends of the buckles when notbeing used. The holder has adjustable and variable holding positions forthe respective seatbelt buckle. Seatbelt buckles which lay around theseat whenever they are not being used leads to a matter of inconvenienceand disarray in the car and often this situation discourages their use.Several inventions have been devised to provide for holding and securingseatbelt buckles while not being used. Several such inventions havemagnetic members thereon for retaining metallic buckles but none areadapted to for the problem of variable belt lengths which are pulled outso as to hold the belts in a relatively taut position whenever the beltsare fastened to the seat.

In view of these problems in the prior art, it is an object of thisinvention, to provide an improved seatbelt buckle holder:

It is also an object of this invention to provide a variable positionalseatbelt buckle holder:

It is also an object of this invention to provide a safe and secureseatbelt receptable system.

Other and further objects will be obvious from the following descriptionand the accompanying drawings, in which FIG. 1 is a top elevational viewof the subject invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a car seat having the subject inventionthereon:

FIG. 3 is a top elevational view of the holding panel for the magneticmembers.

In general, the invention is a semipermanent or permanentpanelattachment to be placed on the seats semipermanently or integrally inthe seats. This panel attachment has a plurality of magnets thereonarranged in series fashion on which magnets the individual seatbeltbuckles can be placed.

Referring to the drawings in which a preferred embodiment is shown, theinterior of an automobile 10 is' shown in which a conventional frontseat is represented by 12. The front seat 12 is constructed to normallyaccomodate two passengers, however, this invention could be readilyadapted to three passenger seats. In addition, the principles of theinvention would apply to rear seats, as well.

A pair of panels 14 of longitudinal disposition, are adapted to befitted on the top of seat 12 or integrally into the fabric of seat 12.Each panel 14 has attached thereon a plurality of rectangular magneticblocks 16 situated in a row in series fashion as shown in FIG. 3. Eachpanel 14 is preferably made of a cloth or leather material onto whichthe magnets 16 are affixed or otherwise integrally attached. The panel14 is then cohesively or integrally adhered to the seat for asemipermanent attachment, or it can be sewn to seat 12 for a permanentattachment as in new cars.

A series of pairs of seatbelts 20 with metallic buckles 21 are situatedabout seat 12 for safety purposes, and

these seatbelt buckles 21 are adapted to be magnetically attracted tothe magnetic blocks 16. These magnetic blocks 16 are placed on panel 14such that a belt buckle 21 can be moved to and fastened on any one ofthe magnetic blocks in a position depending on how far extended the seatbelt buckle was on the seatbelt. By this arrangement there is provided avariable seatbelt buckle holder, Le, a holder with multiple positionsthereon to be used as dictated by the extended length of the seatbelt.While in this magnetically attracted position the belts will be heldrather securely.

By this latter arrangement, the inner seatbelt buckles could be secured.Relative to the outer seatbelt buckles, a panel 28 is attached to theside of seat 12. Panel 25 28 has a plurality of magnetic blocks 16therein, and is attached to seat 12 in a manner similarto panel 14.

As to the shoulder belts, a magnetic holder 30 on the side of the innerroof of car 10 could be provided. The panel 30 is fastened to seat roofby an adhesive sub- 30 stance or sewn thereto.

The above description shall not be construed to limit the scope of theinvention as set forth in the following claims: 7

What is claimed is:

1. A seatbelt buckle holder disposed on an automobile seat to hold theinboard metallic seatbelt buckles, comprising in combination:

a. a rectangularly-shaped panel member integrally attached to the uppersurface: of the automobile seat;

b. a plurality of rectangularly-sha'ped magnetic members disposed onsaid panel in a series fashion with the longitudinal axis of said seriesof magnetic members being parallel to the longitudinal axis of saidautomobile, said magnetic members being adapted to attract and hold ametallic seat belt buckle.

2. A seatbelt buckle holder as described in claim 1 in which themagnetic members are disposed in a direction perpendicular to thecentral longitudinal axis of the automobile.

1. A seatbelt buckle holder disposed on an automobile seat to hold theinboard metallic seatbelt buckles, comprising in combination: a. arectangularly-shaped panel member integrally attached to the uppersurface of the automobile seat; b. a plurality of rectangularly-shapedmagnetic members disposed on said panel in a series fashion with thelongitudinal axis of said series of magnetic members being parallel tothe longitudinal axis of said automobile, said magnetic members beingadapted to attract and hold a metallic seat belt buckle.
 2. A seatbeltbuckle holder as described in claim 1 in which the magnetic members aredisposed in a direction perpendicular to the central longitudinal axisof the automobile.